Please share your tips for hard keepers!

[yickenscarf23]

My 2 year old filly seems to stay perpetually skinny. She's a little over 16 hands currently. Both parents are over 17hh. She's on a mare and foal feed twice a day and on grass 24/7. They have grass hay always available but rarely dip into it. Wormer rotated regularly and she has had blood work recently that I was told was "normal".

Had anyone tried alfalfa cubes for hard keepers? Any holy grail supplements I should order? My other two stay a little on the fat side. This girl I don't even want people to see because she looks so thin.

Edited to say I believe the photos make her look thicker than she is. Her ribs are very easily seen and felt.

 

[Peaches Lee]

You could try soaked beet pulp with rice bran in addition to her current grain. My mares are older so I give them hay alfalfa vs. cubed alfalfa. Easier chewing.

Now, it may also depend on her breed regarding conformation and placement of fat/muscle. For instance, my mother's Andalusians look like marshmallows, my Thoroughbreds are never going to look like that no matter how much food I give them! Good luck!

 

[yickenscarf23]

You could try soaked beet pulp with rice bran in addition to her current grain. My mares are older so I give them hay alfalfa vs. cubed alfalfa. Easier chewing.

Now, it may also depend on her breed regarding conformation and placement of fat/muscle. For instance, my mother's Andalusians look like marshmallows, my Thoroughbreds are never going to look like that no matter how much food I give them! Good luck!

She's an Appendix qh. I had heard Tbs don't hold weight but I didn't know how true it was. It would be cheaper to feed her hundred dollar bills honestly

I'll try the beet pulp and try to locate rice bran. I haven't seen it at the feed store.

 

[Peaches Lee]

She's an Appendix qh. I had heard Tbs don't hold weight but I didn't know how true it was. It would be cheaper to feed her hundred dollar bills honestly

I'll try the beet pulp and try to locate rice bran. I haven't seen it at the feed store.

Ugh! I get it. You know the saying "If you want to make a million dollars with horses start with 2 million!"

I went to Equine Affaire this year and stopped at the Cavalor Feed booth. Told them about my TBs and they suggested a supplement to support liver function, which in turn helps the horses absorb nutrients properly and therefore keep in better weight/condition. I did buy a liver supplement, but not sure if it worked because it was the same time as them going on full grass, so results a bit inconclusive.

If you have a TSC nearby, they will definitely have Rice Bran in stock. I comes in several mediums: powdered, pellet and oil. I use powdered because it mixes real well with the beet pulp. Make sure you soak the beet pulp!

 

[cassie]

I have fed alfalfa cubes to horses. I once had a very thin elderly mare. I bought some sort of a sacked all-in-one feed for her. It was composed of chopped hay, grain, and I don't know what all else. It did miracles for her.

 

[yickenscarf23]

Ugh! I get it. You know the saying "If you want to make a million dollars with horses start with 2 million!"

I went to Equine Affaire this year and stopped at the Cavalor Feed booth. Told them about my TBs and they suggested a supplement to support liver function, which in turn helps the horses absorb nutrients properly and therefore keep in better weight/condition. I did buy a liver supplement, but not sure if it worked because it was the same time as them going on full grass, so results a bit inconclusive.

If you have a TSC nearby, they will definitely have Rice Bran in stock. I comes in several mediums: powdered, pellet and oil. I use powdered because it mixes real well with the beet pulp. Make sure you soak the beet pulp!

I do have a TSC! I'll head there this week.

 

[res]

At 2 years old, you do want to be careful with the nutrient profiles you are feeding her. You can cause a lot of permanent damage to joints if you mess with the vita/min/protein/fat content too much. I would consult with your vet for advice.... I have seen the end result of owners pushing the wrong feeds to young horses, and the horse is permanently crippled.

There is also an online feed calculator, not affiliated with any manufacturer, that does a pretty darn good job of telling you if you are on the correct feed. Only downfall is that it isn't free... it's $15 for 1 month or $45 for a year subscription. https://feedxl.com/

 

[yickenscarf23]

At 2 years old, you do want to be careful with the nutrient profiles you are feeding her. You can cause a lot of permanent damage to joints if you mess with the vita/min/protein/fat content too much. I would consult with your vet for advice.... I have seen the end result of owners pushing the wrong feeds to young horses, and the horse is permanently crippled.

There is also an online feed calculator, not affiliated with any manufacturer, that does a pretty darn good job of telling you if you are on the correct feed. Only downfall is that it isn't free... it's $15 for 1 month or $45 for a year subscription. https://feedxl.com/

The vet recommended the feed she is on and his advice was pretty much that she may just be getting tall fast and using lots of calories to do it. He did bloodwork a few months ago.

 

[yickenscarf23]

Ugh! I get it. You know the saying "If you want to make a million dollars with horses start with 2 million!"

I went to Equine Affaire this year and stopped at the Cavalor Feed booth. Told them about my TBs and they suggested a supplement to support liver function, which in turn helps the horses absorb nutrients properly and therefore keep in better weight/condition. I did buy a liver supplement, but not sure if it worked because it was the same time as them going on full grass, so results a bit inconclusive.

If you have a TSC nearby, they will definitely have Rice Bran in stock. I comes in several mediums: powdered, pellet and oil. I use powdered because it mixes real well with the beet pulp. Make sure you soak the beet pulp!

Have you ever fed beet pulp dry? I tried it today for the first time with her and she hates it. It was mixed with her regular feed and the wetness seems to put her off. The internet seems pretty divided in whether or not it is a choking hazard.

 

[Peaches Lee]

Have you ever fed beet pulp dry? I tried it today for the first time with her and she hates it. It was mixed with her regular feed and the wetness seems to put her off. The internet seems pretty divided in whether or not it is a choking hazard.

No, I have never fed it dry. I personally wouldn't risk feeding it dry but that is just me and my horses/circumstances. My mares will turn their nose up at it if there isn't rice bran mixed in--gives it that yummy flavor I guess. If she really doesn't want wet food, you could try rice bran pellets and forego the beet pulp altogether. Good luck.